Arterial Blood Gas
Also written as ABG.
| Arterial blood gas (ABG) | Is there hypoxaemia or hypercapnia indicating respiratory failure? | PaO₂ < 60 mmHg or PaCO₂ > 45 mmHg in chronic bronchitis suggests advanced disease; normal ABG in mild acute bronchitis. |
What our notes say
- | Arterial blood gas (ABG) | Is there hypoxaemia or hypercapnia indicating respiratory failure? | PaO₂ < 60 mmHg or PaCO₂ > 45 mmHg in chronic bronchitis suggests advanced disease; normal ABG in mild acute bronchitis. | (Bronchitis (Acute and Chronic))
- Investigations: chest X-ray (consolidation); full blood count and CRP; blood cultures and sputum for Gram stain, culture and GeneXpert or AFB; urea and electrolytes; pulse oximetry or arterial blood gas; HIV test; pleural fluid analysis if there is an effusion. (Internal Medicine Respiratory CAT 1: 30 MCQs and 5 short answer questions)
- Pulse oximetry/arterial blood gas; FBC (raised white cells), CRP, U&E, LFTs. (Pneumonia)
- Arterial blood gas and lactate: show the depth of shock and acidosis. (General Surgery CAT 2 (MBSG 4600): 4 October 2021)
- Arterial blood gas, pulse oximetry and ECG (to exclude cardiac contusion). (Internal Medicine Respiratory CAT 1: 30 MCQs and 5 short answer questions)
- ECG (sinus tachycardia, S1Q3T3, right heart strain), chest X-ray (to exclude other causes), arterial blood gas, troponin and BNP, and echocardiography for right heart strain. (Junior Clerkship in Internal Medicine (MBIM4100) main exam, Paper One: 31 Januar)
Study material on Arterial Blood Gas
- Respiratory failure and arterial blood gas interpretation
- Acid-base disorders
- Bronchitis (Acute and Chronic)
- Asthma
- Pulmonary oedema and ARDS
- Chemical Path, Long Answer and Short Answer
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